Systemic Racism (fb)

Drug sentencing laws have long been one of the most blatant examples of systemic or institutional racism.  This chart in a recent article in the WSJ (Crack Sentences Still Tough, 12.22.10, Gary Fields) clearly reveals that we've got a long way to go.


Alexis de Tocqueville, commenting on the American experiment in 1835, said "I do not imagine that the white and black race will ever live in any country upon an equal footing.  But I believe the difficulty to be still greater in the United States than elsewhere.  An isolated individual may surmount the prejudices of religion, of his country, or of his race, and if this individual is a king he may effect surprising changes in society; but a whole people cannot rise, as it were, above itself.  A despot who should subject the americans and their former slaves to the same yoke, might perhaps succeed in commingling their races; but as long as the american democracy remains at the head of affairs no one will undertake so difficult a task; and it may be foreseen that the freer the white population of the United States becomes, the more isolated it will remain." (Democracy in America)  But our hope doesn't lie in our system of government, our hope is in a group of people called Church who live differently because they reserve their highest loyalty for their King- a king who has already surmounted all prejudice.


According to a 2000 study by Michael Emmerson and Christian Smith (Divided by Faith) only 4% of white Protestant Christians believe that racism is among the top issues Christians should be concerned with.  Contrast that with 25% of African-American Protestants who believe that it is the number one issue that Christians should be concerned with.  


Systemic racism is perpetuated when we deny that it exists.  We don't have to look for hints and whispers, there are shouts all around if we'll pay attention.  Change begins with awareness - the Bible calls that "bringing the darkness into the light."   It can change in one generation but it will require the Church really being the Church at her most radiant - astonishing at her unity through diversity and tenacious heart for the justice of the true King and his Kingdom.

He noticed me (fb)

"He noticed me."  That phrase has haunted me in the most wonderful way for weeks now.  It comes into my mind when I'm driving to work, at random times during the day and when I lie down at night.  The words were spoken by a teenage girl in a song that she wrote during an incredibly intense time in her life.  Intense, exciting, scary, uncertain, supernatural.  I wish I could tell you more about her I really do.  Was she outgoing or shy?  Popular or unknown?  Beautiful or challenged?  Easily embarrassed or life of the party?   The answers to those and a gagillion other questions we don't know, we aren't supposed to know.  I'll tell you what we do know. She was a teenager- with all the fear, insecurity, confusion, hope, and longings that teenage girls have.  She was from a smallish town that was kind of a "not such a big deal" place.  She had a fiance.'  She had never had sex- which I think is the thing we're most supposed to know.

Suddenly in the midst of a life probably not unlike the lives of her friends and their moms before them- another world breaks through with an excitement almost uncontainable.  It began with an angel, glowing from exposure to 180-proof glory- enough to make any teenage girl or warrior fall on their face- standing in her room talking to her.  The angel told her God knew her, wanted to bless her, that she would become pregnant, name the child Jesus, and watch as the child became King over a kingdom that would never end.  Overwhelming, outrageous, too much to process, happening so fast - what must she have thought?

She became pregnant and soon went to visit a relative, a woman named Elizabeth.  Elizabeth was older, a woman who loved God, who had recently had some supernatural events breakthrough into her world as well.  Did Mary go to see Elizabeth for perspective?  Wisdom?  Some time away to process?  The answers to those and a gagillion other questions we don't know, we aren't supposed to know.  I'll tell you what we do know.  Elizabeth practically fell at Mary's feet when Mary walked in the door, declaring her to be the most "blessed of all women."  Elizabeth reacted as human beings who have longed for God's presence for a lifetime respond when He enters their world.  What must Mary have felt?  Like teenage girls before and after she wrote a poem, a song, a journal entry- she had to get it down- what she was thinking and feeling.  And knowing now what we do know now- we can claim her song as our own.  An expression of a heart that has been made new by the life and death and life of Jesus.

She begins... "My heart praises God, He makes my soul happy because He noticed me"

May I tell me and may I remind you that what was true of her is true of us?  When the human heart experiences the reality that He noticed me the religion goes out the door and the relationship becomes consuming in a way that would turn anyone into a lovesick singer-songwriter.  "He noticed me...He knows my name...He's real and close not far away...He pursued me...He knows EVERYTHING and He still wants to be my friend...His mercy is compelling...the reality of God intervening in my life has changed its trajectory forever and I am finally discovering what life is and who I am - I'm starting to Live!"

For 2000 years the Church has called Mary's song the Magnificat - but you can call it He Noticed Me- may it haunt you in the most wonderful way.

Unity is and is not (fc)

As Jesus sent his disciples out to do his works he didn’t say, “now be nice to each other and you’ll see the sick healed and demons flee and hearts transformed.”  He said “Don’t go alone; be careful!  I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves, expect to be imprisoned, expect persecution, expect to stand before politicians and princes, expect to be rejected by brothers and fathers, expect strife, but stand firm to the end because my Father will give you everything you need- in fact- it makes Him happy to give you his entire Kingdom!”

Paul, Peter, James – all of them say expect it to be hard- you’ll be tempted to blame each other but remember, you’re fighting demons not each other (Eph 6).

If we want unity it won’t feel like unity most of the time-  it will feel like we’re barely hanging on to each other.  Real unity, REAL community comes at a great price- we surrender our rights for the sake of Christ and one another.  We together go on a journey of dying to ourselves and living to Christ and it’s hard.

If it’s going well it will drive you into 2 places: 

1.     To your knees in desperate prayer

2.     Into hard conversations 

Preparing our kids for life on Mars (fc)

About three years ago Stacy and I had a conversation on the beach at Isle of Palms, South Carolina.  We were talking about globalization and a changing world and skills that kids will need in the future.  I came home and started a list I never finished.  A list that really is unfinishable - but here's the start of an interesting conversation- feel free to add to it.

Skills my kids need in order to thrive in their generation that they won’t learn in school:

Fluency in at least one, preferably two languages other than English

How to lead a cross-disciplinary team confronted with a specific challenge or project.

How to quickly garner as much empathy as possible for a new person or people group.  In other words, how do you “walk in someone else’s moccasins” intentionally, as quickly as possible?

The ability to thrive in cross-cultural situations.

The ability to assimilate and synthesize large quantities of information quickly.  How to get to the most relevant facts.

Travel savvy- especially in navigating internationally and in mega-cities

Mega-city savvy- generally- especially transportation and communication

The appreciation of culinary diversity- an adventurous palate. 

An astonishing work ethic

The ability to speak the language of working people and of intellectual elites for the purpose of gaining respect at first impression.

A genuine excitement about learning and applying new technology

The ability to cultivate food- basic horticulture and animal husbandry

A working understanding of financial instruments and markets including barter and insurance.

An appreciation of the arts and their importance in culture and community building

"You're a prophet and a dreamer" (fb)

"You're a prophet and a dreamer" - translated, "There is a label that explains your behavior- that makes sense of why you'd want to leave our club- that frees us from examining the system we continue to prop up"


Here is an interview with someone who gets it and holds it with grace and humility.  The contrast is striking.



What's Next for Francis Chan? A Conversation with Mark Driscoll and Joshua Harris from Ben Peays on Vimeo.

A little Thursday am Wimber (fb)

I was recently asked to list my "heroes, from the past or today, who you most admire and desire to emulate."  The late John Wimber made the short list.  I never met him but I love him - love how he loved the Church - how he made people feel empowered and encouraged- all the people.  I love how his humble and obedient heart freed others to take risks.  He was a rock n roller turned Jesus freak.  A revivalist who was the catalytic figure in worldwide revival in the late 80's and early 90's - most Americans have never heard of him, most Brits have and consider him a spiritual father of their movement.  He made life with Jesus simple, fun and full of power.


A few zingers from the intro of Everyone Gets to Play - the second compilation of John Wimber writings.  Just started this morning- the type of book best read devotionally - sipped not gulped- so I look forward to some pearls over the next few weeks.


"I can either get a tent and have a huge revival where I can do this by myself, or I can release it to the people, and equip them to play." - Wimber


"I had good teaching, but John Wimber and company had good fruit" - Bill Johnson


"John came with his ministry and left it with us" - David Pytches


"I realized that sometimes there is no way to explain obedience and sacrifice to God to those who do not see the Pearl." - Wimber

What really changes things? (fb)

Do things need to change?  What things?  …poverty?  Racism?  Systemic injustice?  Ugly buildings?  Vulnerable communities?  The availability of Orange Julius?

What really changes things?  Government?  Getting better at getting more people to come to more meetings?  Political leaders?  Grassroots movements?  Ideas?  Technology?  Love?

Just returned from a few days in NYC spending time with guys in business, church, and non-profit who dream of transformed cities- guys who think lots about what really changes things.  And it’s so fun to be with people like that – people who don’t just think about it but are doing things about it.  They are doing amazing things in their worlds. 

A couple of editorial thoughts upon reflection…

First, the structures that are in place are massively inadequate to sustain real change.  What do you mean?   Well…like….what we call “church” for the most part wouldn’t know what to do if tens of thousands suddenly said Yes.  But the same is true for all of our structures – banking, health care, education, government – most of our institutions are totally incompatible with the change we long for and we should keep working like dogs to change those things.

Second, the only thing that will change cities is…one man, one woman who has an encounter with God.  An encounter where the immense power of God and his outrageous compassion become real in a way that that man or woman feels as if they might be alive for the first time- becomes so real that they can’t help but gather a few other hungry hearts – hearts who are overjoyed at the simplicity of listening and responding to a voice that, once so far away, is suddenly so near.

My hand is to the plow of structure, my heart aches for more hungry hearts- for my own heart to be more and more desperate for more and more of God’s presence.  

But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.  Deuteronomy 4:29

If you want it here it is come and get it  - Paul McCartney

Fresh wind for our movement (fb)

I am proud to be a part of a world-wide movement that traces its roots back thousands of years.  I joined in high school, but had watched with curiosity and attraction for years.  Having no sense of the movement's history I couldn't have understood that I got connected at the beginning of a major downturn in our movement's popularity- at least in America.  The fact is that our movement has mostly fallen off of the radar of relevancy in our culture.

Prior to the 1940's the movement was primarily about professionals or the wealthy - but three things combined to create an explosion - making it accessible and desirable for millions of Americans.  First, a picture.  In 1953 Time magazine profiled John F. and Jackie Kennedy sailing small boats off sandy beaches off of Cape Cod.  The images told a story that included sailing in a life of romance, leadership, family, and citizenship.  The demand for sailing caused small communities of sailors to begin organizing.   These clubs were member owned and managed and existed to connect families with the opportunity to use free time sailing together.  The third factor was technological- in 1943 the Owens Corning company developed fiberglass, making boats both durable and affordable.  When Todd Little and I became 50-50 partners on a 16 foot Sidewinder racing sloop there were 10 million middle-class Americans that were part of this movement called "sailing."  In the last decade participation in sailing has declined by 40%.  Why?

First, the clubs built expensive water-front club houses during the boom years.  They began to hire staff, develop programs, include restaurants and bars, and generally forgot the core principle that they started with - "make it possible for people to sail."  The clubs that are currently thriving have no paid staff, still share resources, are intergenerational, and require that everyone give some of their free time for the sake of the club.  Todd and I got the guts to buy our boat because of a club at Lake Hefner that offered hourly rentals.

The "partners" tuning up Chastity in the driveway

Second, sailing became dominated by professionals and lost its connection to family life.  "The organic vitality of an activity can be measured by a ratio of amateurs to professionals active in it...when too many pros tax too few amateurs, some amateurs will start to wonder why they are in it."  In 2008, five percent of sailors were paid for it in some fashion.  Compare that with music, where one in 300 musicians are paid. The pro/amateur imbalance means that sailing has become a "crutch for some and a whim for others" rather than a lifestyle of the devoted.

Stacy and I bought "Dixie"- a 23' cruiser with a cabin- when our kids were four and six.  Sailing for us was about family and friends sharing experiences together.  It was a place of prayer, mentoring, laughter, and adventure.  It wasn't easy, but it was so worth it.

Third, sailing isn't simple - it is both art and science - quite complicated- the kind of thing that requires a lifetime commitment.  In the last 20 years our culture has abandoned "lifetime pursuits" in favor of paid entertainment in small time increments.  It is much easier to pay for a two hour movie than to head to a lake, rig a boat, read the wind, face a new challenge then take it all down and put it away.

Fourth, related to the former point, families aren't sailing together and the sailing industry promotes a generational disconnect.  "Find a culture where kids and adults are segregated and you'll find a culture on life support."  The decline of sailing in the last 20 years is directly correlated to the rise of kids "programs." We have taught a generation that sailing is primarily something to be done for kids, by kids, as kids in summer programs.  It is something to grow out of, not grow in to.

Finally, the focus on competition has brought division in sailing.  The professionals promoted sailing as a sport to compete in rather than a pastime to enjoy.  It is much easier to sell things to people who believe they need the latest and greatest, lightest and fastest.  The emphasis on racing created massive division among sailors competing to promote their race, their rules, their events, their class of boats as THE standard.  Each group has their own organizations, rules, publications, heroes and gurus.  For the average Joe that might be interested in sailing- this all seems like one big complicated mess.

What can we do about it?  What would it take for sailing to again become a lifestyle about shared adventure?

"Sailboats are flatly not family friendly in the popular sense.  On sailboats people argue, swear, and shout.  On sailboats, people fear, cry and celebrate.  On sailboats people fart, burp and vomit.  All out in the open.  But on sailboats, people, even children, learn to trust and understand each other, even when mistakes are made or common-sense lines are crossed...When sailing finally includes whole families and their networks, then sailing will gain in popularity again because it will matter again."

1.  Focus on mentoring

Jake about to take the helm as we motor out of Lake Hefner's East Bay

Real sailors are passionate about an idea: "that sailing is a better way to live than not sailing."  "...it is very difficult to spread one's passion into a pastime for the masses.  In fact, avidity usually develops one on one, or one to a few."  Mentors carry "authentic, contagious enthusiasm" for sailing- they are the key to its reemergence as a viable "Life Pastime" in the next generation.  "Mentoring en-masse is inevitably inauthentic.  And it fails when mentoring is confused with a place, a curriculum, philanthropy or a social program by well-meaning organizers."  Mentors are motivated by progress in their apprentices.  They don't waste time on just anyone- they look for apprentices willing to "commit, recommit, and recommit again even if it hurts."  "This can only happen in small groups of the same people over substantial time...everyone must participate."

2.  Raise the bar
"If sailors hope that sailing will survive and grow, they won't try to convince others that it is easy.  They will rightly call sailing what it is: difficult, time-consuming, evolving, sometimes risky and always worth it."

3.  Connect it to community, including women and girls

Em chillin' on Dixie

"Today, for every seven sailors on a boat, only one is a woman and almost none of these are active mothers."  Sailing has traditionally been the pastime of men and boys.  For sailing to begin growing again it must be about community, connecting families and generations to a shared lifestyle.  This requires a community commitment to create "overlapping free time" to spend together.

4.  Refocus sailing organizations around simple things-
"Define "family friendly" not as something sanitized or segregated, but as a thing purposely built for active family use."
Help mentors find apprentices and vice-versa
Focus everything around the idea of spreading a passion for sailing to as many as possible

Dad and Jake on Eufaula.  "I'll drive, you trim sails"

Finally- some things to avoid:
1.  "Don't focus on making entry easy; instead create open access and let the benefits pull those who choose to participate."
2.  "Don't encourage sailing, or for that matter any Life Pastime, to be a spectator sport.  It's bad for sailing and for spectators."
3.  "Never outsorce leadership.  Leaders are a product of time invested and shared experiences.  So invest time and share experiences among leaders and potential leaders."
4.  "Don't think that schools or programs or clubs and do what parents and/or mentor should do.
5.  "Never separate families and friends."
6.  "Never limit access to the water or deny someone time on a sailboat."

I recently finished reading Nicholas D. Hayes' Saving Sailing - all of the quotes and most of these ideas are direct lifts from that book.  If you, like me, are a student of leadership and community you should read this book.

I am a part of another movement that has declined with eery parallels to sailing in recent decades.  I love sailing, the other movement is my Eternal Past Time- why has it declined and what will it take to see it revived in America? - re-read the above with your Church glasses on - and be of good cheer - the breeze really is freshening from the east!

The Help (fb)

"It's time Minny, do you hear me?  You are free."

Finally finished this beautiful novel by Kathryn Stockett- The Help.  It is the story of a group of young white girls and the black women who raised them and are raising their babies.  It is set in Jackson, Mississippi in the early 60's.  Some thoughts:

Read it this summer on vacation- yeah it will break your heart but you'll also laugh a lot

More help for those that still don't understand why "they" can't just get over "it"- I mean that sincerely

Why so many recent books and movies about the courage, beauty, and forgiving hearts of black women in the face of racial, political, gender, and economic injustice?  God's up to something.

I was inspired by Skeeter's courage and willingness to "see"-  to really see

The beauty and dignity of "house work"  

Minny, Mr. Johnny and Miss Celia are a beautiful, redeeming story within a story- all three rise above their times

Stories, even fictional stories, about people that are different than us open our hearts to love all people more deeply, more genuinely, more like Jesus loves people.  It's good for a white man in 2010 Oklahoma to see into the joy and pain of two classes of women in Jackson, Mississippi in the 60's.

Race is THE issue of our times.  If you are looking for "Kingdom come" then put a hand on this plow- books like this help.  Also- watch the upcoming World Cup - it will be globalization's coming out party and racial tension will be ever-present if you're paying attention. 

Classic in the best way (fb)

The SBs just announced a new church planting initiative- 100 communities in 100 cities launched on 1 day- using the internet to connect people to God and each other, then providing opportunity for them to connect physically (thank you LifeChurch.TV for pioneering).  I'm hoping it's like Danny Wallace "Join Me" style church planting (which has never been more possible thanks to Facebook and Twitter).  They might find a way to mess it up, but....  It's a good example of why the SBs are the only evangelical denomination that has continued to survive, maybe even thrive while the rest whither on the vine.

Why?  Because, throughout their heritage, there are two things they value.

1.  The autonomy of the local church.  They have always been an entrepreneurial movement that values practice over posturing.  They are the NASCAR, git r done denomination.  Do they have bureaucracy and institutions?- of course, but... there is a pilot light still burning that values a decentralized movement united by one thing...

2.  The one thing... a commitment to mission.  This is the thing that unites them.  If it connects people to God- they're in.  They aren't defined (much to the average SB denominational leader's chagrin and they would never admit it) by their theology or doctrine.  Name me an SB theologian- Millard Erickson- ok that's one, but you won't find many.  On the other hand, you'll find lots of Presbyterian, Reformed, Lutheran, Methodist scholars - how are those guys doing?

No- at the end of the day- despite all of their perceived and real crumudgeon-like behavior - the SB's keep coming back to the right question.  "How do we proclaim Good News in this place and in this time?"

Something to grieve, something to own (fb)

Something significant happened in the family called Church last week- maybe you missed it.  Early last week John Piper announced that he is taking "an eight-month leave of absence to address unspecified "sins" that have "taken a toll" on his marriage."  (http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2010/03/author-piper-takes-leave-to-ta.php) John Piper happens to be my favorite modern preacher and teacher.  Back when he started Desiring God Ministries I was on a first name basis with The person that you called to order preaching "tapes."  Until a few years ago I read everything he wrote- including his exposition of Romans 9!  I just love this guy so it's understandable that this would be huge news for me.  But here is why I think it's huge news for "you" and especially for "us."


The Western church, especially the American church, has embraced a structure that is found nowhere in the New Testament, burns out leaders, and generally hinders the mission for which this family was gathered.  I don't know the "sins" to which Piper refers to but I know this.  John Piper walking away from everything for 8 months is a radical step to address radical problems.  This is not a guy who is just tired.  He doesn't just need a sabbatical - he's had lots of those through the years- mostly used for writing.  Fortunately his problems will likely not disqualify him for future leadership in the Church.  But over the last few years I've watched several high profile Christian leaders and several low-profile leaders fall under the weight of a system that is not sustainable.  Specifically, I talked to a couple of guys a year over the past ten years that needed to do what Piper is doing- step away- but wouldn't, couldn't.  


When I was in seminary, the statistic quoted was that the average length of time in vocational ministry for seminary grads was 7 years.  I'll bet that number is less now.  The typical senior pastor is relationally isolated - meaning they have no close friends to share heart-level intimacy with.  Most are also relationally isolated from their wives and families- who often resent continually playing second fiddle to the "church family."  I've never met a senior pastor who didn't say that wife and family are "first" - neither have I ever met one that was at peace with the way that value practically is worked out in the rhythm of life.   The senior pastor carries the weight of maintaining balance in a "provider-client" system that rewards an incremental increase in maintaining the status quo.  Every social invitation becomes a "should," every request for meeting is accompanied with fear.  Mostly fear of inadequacy- inadequate to give that perfect word of wisdom, encouragement, counsel, or affirmation that is expected.  Each time the senior leader rises to proclaim God's word it is with the knowledge that the performance will be judged  in every car and at every lunch table.  Our senior leaders are the brand, they are the franchise, a part of our identity.  In an adolescent culture obsessed with the next hit, they are Christendom's rock stars.  In short, the senior pastor is asked to be Prophet, Priest, and King...Apostle, Pastor, Teacher, and Evangelist.  But why does that matter?


It matters first because my bible tells me that in Christ we are one- we are connected, we share the same spiritual dna, everything that a brother or sister does affects all of the brothers and sisters.  If John Piper is hurting I'm hurting.  If Ted Haggard flames out...we flame out!  It's not "him" it's "us."  We are a covenant people - one in Christ and one with each other.  We are a body, a house, an army, a temple, a bride.  We are watching our leaders walk up onto a stage as a lamb to the slaughter, then we turn our eyes as they fall away.  We wish them well, pray for them, say what a shame it is, point out their flaws, then prop up the next guy.


It matters also because my bible tells me that leadership in the church is not connected to titles but to discipling people.  It is to be done by a diverse group of amateurs that are radically dependent on the Holy Spirit for ... everything.    There is not one description of Church in the new testament that looks anything like what we call "church."  You won't find one senior pastor in the new testament.  What you find is groups of people in cities, in community with one another, radically committed to love their city towards Jesus and His Kingdom.  They meet in small groups a lot more often than they meet in large groups.  The one description of a gathering that we are given in the bible shows a group of people waiting on the Holy Spirit- one has a word, another a song, another a prayer- everyone gets to play- everyone has to play.  Church is the lifestyle of a community on mission together, not a place you go or a meeting to attend.  If you go to a place or attend a meeting it should be for the purpose of equipping and encouraging you to live the lifestyle, or... it should be a worship and prayer throwdown for the ages that serves as a tangible expression of who we are and who God is.  


So what do we do about it?  Radical problems require radical solutions.  Senior pastors will continue to fall under the weight of "ministry" unless the body "be's" the body by taking that weight onto itself.  That will require:
- a fresh dose of grace- where we begin to grasp in our hearts how loved we are and how free we are
- a fresh vision of Kingdom transformation- a heart cry to see our friends, families, cities, and nations loved toward a reflection of "on earth as it is in heaven" 
- a biblical view of Church and church leadership- an army of amateurs committed to encourage one another to go for it in every sphere of culture
- a dependence on the Holy Spirit that we have not experienced in this country since the frontier revivals- we probably will have to be taught by African, Indian, Asian and Latin American brothers and sisters
- a structure that empowers Church as a lifestyle and makes "church as a meeting" a thing of the past


Where can we start?  The local church community that my family is connected to is taking radical steps in the right direction- steps that don't feel radical to most people- which means people are much more willing to embrace change.  Here are a few of these steps that we are embracing:


1.  Multiple preachers and teachers- there is no one that is the visible senior leader
2.  Paid staff are all part time, bi-vocational leaders - this keeps people grounded in real-life and also makes it impossible to load them down with burdens that should be carried by us all
3.  The weekly gathering is appropriately de-emphasized and life-together outside of the weekly meeting is celebrated
4.  The theology of the Kingdom is preached again, and again, and again, and again...
5.  There is almost an "open source" sense of place and mission in regards to the Church in our city, it's mission, and our necessary connection to all of our brothers and sisters in the city, regardless of their label


So let's pray for John and Noel Piper- let's fight for and with them.  And let's listen to what the Spirit is saying to the Church- taking ownership for our own contribution to the repeated crash and burn of our leaders.  Everyone gets to play, everyone has to play.  Finally, we know the end of the story and are full of faith - the Bride will be the beautiful, world-changing girl she was made to be and all the created of all time will marvel at her glory.

Texas Hill Country tour (fb)

A week before Spring Break we had no plans other than to help with the Church 2010 event at the Refuge OKC (which was amazing!)  We only have a few Spring Breaks left with the kids- precious time- so we wanted to use the few days after the OKC event to hit the road and do something fun.  It worked out so well I thought I'd give you the itinerary.  It would be a cool road trip for families with older kids or even for couples (it weirds the kids out when we describe places as "romantic"-  but lots of places were).

Wednesday:
Drove 3 hours to Fort Worth.  Hung out at the Stockyards for about three hours.
Leddy's - learned all about hand made boots, saddles, and hats
The Love Shack- had milkshakes on patio overlooking the main drag
Cattle Drive - kinda lame- only about 20 sleepy cows sauntering down the block
Joe T Garcia's - great tex-mex in an incredible outdoor atmosphere- one of the kids favorite things of the whole trip.  There is a line for seating indoor and one for outdoor.  The outdoor line will be longer but well worth the extra wait.
Billy Bob's- pool and two-stepping, big fun
Hotwire.com hooked us up with a 3.5 star Hyatt Center near downtown for $54 bones

Thursday:
Drove 2 hours to Austin.
Magnolia Cafe- perfect lunch on South Congress ("SoCo")- worth the wait
Walking South Congress and Downtown- South by Southwest was in full swing- there was live music everywhere- every parking lot, bar, lawn, building- everywhere. It was heaven.  We strolled for four hours down SoCo listening to music, eating great food and hanging out in cool boutiques.  Here are a couple of highlights.
Mellow Johnnies- Lance's bike shop.  Over-the-top awesome.  They were setting up for a band that was playing in the shop for SXSW.  Several of Lance's bikes downstairs.
Cupcake Airstream- listening to live music hanging out in front of the cupcake trailer was surreal.
Zilker Park- we took naps on the lawn at Zilker Park- threw the baseball.
Zilker Botanical Gardens- a hidden treasure in Zilker Park- we all loved it- beautiful
Pool at Barton Springs- we didn't swim but it is a must see
Alamo Draft House- good bar food while watching Alice in Wonderland 3-D.  Go early- the stuff they show before the movie is as good as the movie- classic.
Progress Coffee- OK- truth- we were too tired, but it really is the best coffee shop in Austin and I fantasized about all of us laughing into the late hours of the night over coffee but instead we ended up at a smokey Super 8 motel bushed.

Friday:
Drove 2 hours to Fredericksburg- wonderful scenic drive
Downtown Fredericksburg:  classic main street lined with mostly legit boutiques, bookstores, cafe's- nice strolling and browsing.
Rather Sweet Bakery:  where the locals eat- fresh local veg and baked goods.  Best chicken salad sandwich I've ever had- really cool place with a cool courtyard, balconies.
Becker Winery:  Fredericksburg is the hub of the Texas wine country.  Becker is the bell of their ball- expensive tasting room ($10 for 6) but fun.  Good wines.  Wish we had been there in May for the lavender festival.
Peach blossoms everywhere !
Enchanted Rock State Park:  This amazing granite rock in the middle of nowhere. You can climb up in 30 minutes- a must do- probably the consensus favorite thing of the whole trip (many thanks to Teri Brasheres for the rec)  Walked around on top for awhile- saw a helicopter mountain rescue- some lady fell down the rock- be careful!
Der Lindenbaum:  Small German place on Main- great food (this was a German town so we wanted to find the heritage fare).  We waited outside for a table and listened to a guitar player/ singer at the Silver Creek that was amazing.  I could have sat in that courtyard for hours- under the trees and the strung lights and the heaters and the music...

Hangar Hotel:  Our splurge- a converted airline hangar on a working airstrip.  We loved it- beautiful room, great people, boutique hotel.

Saturday:
98.1 KVET:  Listened to this station for three days.  Great new and classic country with a bent towards Texas hill country....country- Robert Earl Keen, Randy Rogers, Jerry Jeff Walker, Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle
Drove an hour, through Luchenbach, to San Marcos- beautiful
San Marcos outlet shopping:  we had a good time- they have all the stores- what can I say- it's outlet shopping- sometimes it's incredible and most of the time no big deal.  This time was on the no big deal end of the spectrum.
Drove 3 hours to Fort Worth
Riscky's BBQ: Good BBQ in Sundance Square- downtown Ft. Worth.  Sundance Square is kinda like if you put OKC's bricktown in the middle of the financial district- right in the middle of downtown- pretty cool.  Best spare-ribs I've ever had- with the possible exception of Shafer's home-smoked ones, but I digress.
Hilton:  Hotwire scored for us again- $54 for the downtown Hilton.  Walking to dinner, swanky hotel, so fun.

Sunday:
Breakfast at the Corner Bakery then we hit the road back to OKC.

Do this trip or something like it.  The Texas hill country is beautiful- great people, food, scenery, music, rural, urban, outdoorsey- everything a road trip should be.

My kids are going to space (fb)

Today was the maiden voyage of the first commercial spacecraft by Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic.  It was only a test, and it never got into space but...it will- not 50 years from now but in the next two or three.  This makes me giddy with excitement, not because of space but because it is such a brilliant example of how quantum change really happens- it isn't linear it's reactionary.

If we polled 100 people and asked them "when will commercial spaceflight happen and what will it look like?" ninety plus percent of them would say something like..."It will be decades if it happens in my lifetime and it will be in some big spaceship that looks kind of like the space shuttle, with a blast off and everything."  Leave it to Richard Branson to find the guys that are thinking radically different.  The current model of spaceflight was built in and for the industrial age:

Massive organizations
Thousands of specialists
Rockets required to launch the craft from ground into outer space
Extremely infrequent launches
Large space craft requiring large structures and propulsion
Only the largest and wealthiest governments can afford to participate
Government sponsored space "programs"
Passengers are physical and intellectual elites that have gone through years of training

But here is how Virgin Galactic saw the future:

Smaller organizations
Less specialization and more borrowing from a variety of technologies and industries
Planes perform the final launch from 60,000 feet
Frequent launches
Small craft requiring small structures and propulsion
Thousands and eventually hundreds of thousands able to participate
Private "firms"
Passengers are normal Joes (that have a lot of money- at least at first!)
Training takes three days initially (I'll bet they get that down to one day within the first 5 years)

Wired magazine makes the point this month that the Apple ipad will forever change personal computing- no more mouse or keyboard or clumsy case.  Today the Church in America is Commodor 64, but it will be iPad, not iMac.  It won't be more and better of what we currently think of as "best practice."  It will be  different- quantum different.  I'm a Church lover- I don't know what you love.  But if you're a pioneer, avoid the trap of thinking linear change and train your mind to think quantum, which normally begins by changing all the questions.  And if you're a settler- don't stress out- just enjoy the ride and let the pioneers lose sleep about space travel, smart homes, communication technology, sustainability, urban planning, local food... And while we're glancing out the window wondering what the first moon village will be like you'll be full of joy, in the moment, awed by the vastness of space:)

To the sent ones (fc)

You are part of the most exciting generation in the history of the Church.  A generation set apart to be sent out into every network, neighborhood, and nation.  There is nothing special about you- in fact- it’s your ordinariness that is compelling.  Like the army in the book of Joel, the nations are shaking but they don’t see you they see Him.  Cities will be changed from the inside out, from the margin to the center.  No person, no church, no organization, no country, no leader gets the credit- a.k.a. the GLORY.  That will be reserved only for Him.  But where the sent ones are, EVERYONE will want to be.  If you want it you can have it- AIDS, Africa, human trafficking, extreme poverty, the marketplace and the arts- but it will cost you everything, beginning with your reputation.  History says you’ll quit.  If you make it it will be because you accepted the journey of character, courage, and community for a lifetime.  The good news?  You’ve got it- everything you need to go the distance.  You lack…nothing.

High school for life (fb)

High school orientation for Jake last night.  The band, the choir, the athletes, the speeches, the hype, the clubs- holy cow.  The sun club promotes recycling and organic gardens.  The kids jamming in the corner are promoting the guitar club.  The latin club kids seem the most enthusiastic.  Enrollment forms due tomorrow.  A/P or no A/P?  Woodworking or Intro to Business?  How many sports?  Which sports?  So many decisions, so many options.  So I'm pondering.  I think these four years are probably the most important four years of your life.

Why?

You solidify your values while you're still living at home.  Who you are in high school, from a value stand point, is pretty much who you are for the rest of your life.

It determines where you go to college- which has a huge impact on your career, who you marry, what part of the country you settle in...

It can determine your lifelong friends.  Even if you don't stay in touch with your high school friends I'll bet you still hang out with the kind of people you hung out with in high school- and who you hang out with determines who you'll be.

It locks in the self-image you carry with you for the rest of your life.

I think...do you think so?  What do you think?  Is high school the most important time of your life?

Why I am a runner (fb)

I watched the sun rise this morning over the Sorghum Hills on a ten-mile run.  It was beautiful and everything felt right.  I felt like a runner…I am a runner – so started thinking about why.

I am a runner because Stephanic Fischer spoke destiny over me.  She walked up to Stacy and I after church one day, looked at me and said “I see you as a runner.”  I hated running, looked like anything but a runner, had no plans to run.  But her words were powerful- words are powerful.

I am a runner because I started running.  Four years after Stephanie’s comment I took it with me and headed out the door for my first run.  I ran one minute then walked one.  Eventually I ran two minutes then walked one.  Then I ran ten minutes and walked two.  Eventually I ran a mile without walking.  I was happy with little victories and pathetic baby steps but I stayed…I ran.  You can’t be a runner if you don’t run.

I am a runner because of Eric Mixon.  He is my training partner and even though we don’t often run together I think about him every time I train.  He keeps me accountable to live the life I want to live.  I wouldn’t run without Eric.  You can’t run without accountable community.

I am a runner because I speak the language, I’ve had the experiences.  If I was injured tomorrow and never ran again I am forever part of the running family.  I have run for years not months.  I have experienced pain and suffering and victory.  It is a lifestyle not an event.

I am a follower of Jesus.  Destiny was spoken over me, I responded with a smidge of faith and started running towards Him, running with Him.  Accountable community keeps me running but, regardless, I am a part of a spiritual family forever.  I’ve had the experiences, I’m learning the language of Kingdom.  I want to help others run.  The family is supposed to be bigger.   Everyone is invited.

I think Henri was like... (fc)

If a young Henri Nouwen were here this morning it wouldn’t take much cajoling to get him to speak to us.  And if he did he would shyly walk up here, but once he began you would be struck by a couple of things.  One, you would be captured by the way he used words- his brilliant eloquence.  But secondly, you would be entertained by this brilliant clown who flailed his lanky limbs awkwardly around, never standing still, and pausing with crazy eyes and a big smile after a point well made.

But if an older, road weary Henri Nouwen were here this morning I think he would be sitting back there in the corner.  And he would be irreverently fidgety.  He was ADD with everything except for one thing- people.  If he were here he would lock onto the person seated around him who looked the most lost and lonely- and he would secretly hope and pray for an opportunity to know them.  And if that person were you, you would shake his hand and he would look at you in a way you’ve rarely if ever been looked at- with eyes full of expectation, joy, love, and unconditional acceptance.  He would probably want to ditch this sermon for the opportunity to have a cup of coffee and get to know you- and while you talked you would never doubt that you had his undivided attention.  And after your encounter you would feel loved by Henri and loved by God.

(excerpt from a biographical sermon on Henri Nouwen)

How the Community Communicates (fb)

Some thoughts about how comm tech is accelerating change in the Church:

A biblical theology of community says that we’re all connected- now a spiritual reality is becoming tangible to everyone.  I am connected to Nancy in Kenya via Facebook but, more broadly, we are aware of how the food we purchase in OKC impacts the rice farmer in Thailand.

New communications tech is fundamentally changing the way that community functions- you change the way community communicates... you change everything (credit Clay Shirkey’s great explanation of this principle in Here Comes Everybody).  For instance, hierarchy becomes unnecessary when everyone can talk to everyone.  This afternoon, via Twitter alone, we can muster an army from multiple churches to remodel a housing unit for a single mom at Tapestry- we don’t need anyone to plan it, publicize it, resource it, communicate it, connect us to it, educate us about it, train us for it.  In short- we don’t need a hierarchy to manage us.

The ability to pursue a vision together, with our community,  without relying on an organization means that we are fixin to see a humongous jailbreak of lay people (a.k.a. amateurs) taking over the leadership of this movement called Church.  Our theology says “everyone gets to play” but our paradigm says that’s not really true.  Now we see that one amateur with a heart to put tents in Haiti can git r done- that’s really exciting.  Effectiveness no longer requires professional management and organizational support.

The idea that our missional energy should be directed exclusively through organizations (local church, parachurch) that we belong to will seem increasingly silly.  The opportunity for missional community to form around “networks and neighborhoods” will increasingly unite people across denominational, theological, sociological and local church tribes.

As we become more aware of opportunities to “be the church” and “live as church,” in a manner that fits our vision, call, gifts, personality, networks, dreams, and the Kingdom worldview; we will become less willing to pay a subscription fee for participation in spiritual organizations (salaries, buildings, and programs).  Instead, we will choose to use our “giving” for fighting human-trafficking, projects we’re directly involved with, and people we’re directly connected to.  We will become better stewards of our giving resources, demanding more accountability and giving only to those projects that provide us the greatest Kingdom return on our financial investment.  This will further erode the current economic model of western “Church.”  What am I talking about?  I’m saying it will no longer be cool with us to pay to build buildings that go unused most of the week or pay for Mrs Johnson’s grandson, who plays the guitar, to sing Passion songs for the Sunday morning youth service; or to pay for Johnny Tightshirt to hang out at the church coffee “lounge” as a paid intern ‘cause it’s funner than funemployment.  Side note:  so is there anything in the current system that we’ll still be willing to pay for?  Yes, but it will have to be a clear value, characterized by excellence.  So we’ll pay for super excellent worship celebration, teaching, inspiration, and resources- …but not every week:)

Get ready for wiki-theology.  For the past 100 years we’ve been taught to fear incorrect doctrine.  Our ability to interact with “them” and “their” ideas will actually result in the Church starting to love the Church.  The main and plain will become mainer and plainer and we’ll no longer be afraid- when you’re not afraid you’re free.  Look for the language of Kingdom and discipleship to become the glue of a global, shared language of Church.

What an amazingly, exceedingly wonderful time to be a part of this 2000 year old, world-changing community called Church.  Ooooo I love tech-no-lo-gy, but noooooot as much as you you see…

Berry's Manifesto (fc)

 Love the quick profit, the annual raise,

    vacation with pay. Want more

    of everything ready-made. Be afraid

    to know your neighbors and to die.

    And you will have a window in your head.

    Not even your future will be a mystery

    any more. Your mind will be punched in a card

    and shut away in a little drawer.

    When they want you to buy something

    they will call you. When they want you

    to die for profit they will let you know.

    So, friends, every day do something

    that won't compute. Love the Lord.

    Love the world. Work for nothing.

    Take all that you have and be poor.

    Love someone who does not deserve it.

    Denounce the government and embrace

    the flag. Hope to live in that free

    republic for which it stands.

    Give your approval to all you cannot

    understand. Praise ignorance, for what man

    has not encountered he has not destroyed.

    Ask the questions that have no answers.

    Invest in the millenium. Plant sequoias.

    Say that your main crop is the forest

    that you did not plant,

    that you will not live to harvest.

    Say that the leaves are harvested

    when they have rotted into the mold.

    Call that profit. Prophesy such returns.

    Put your faith in the two inches of humus

    that will build under the trees

    every thousand years.

    Listen to carrion - put your ear

    close, and hear the faint chattering

    of the songs that are to come.

    Expect the end of the world. Laugh.

    Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful

    though you have considered all the facts.

    So long as women do not go cheap

    for power, please women more than men.

    Ask yourself: Will this satisfy

    a woman satisfied to bear a child?

    Will this disturb the sleep

    of a woman near to giving birth?

    Go with your love to the fields.

    Lie down in the shade. Rest your head

    in her lap. Swear allegiance

    to what is nighest your thoughts.

    As soon as the generals and the politicos

    can predict the motions of your mind,

    lose it. Leave it as a sign

    to mark the false trail, the way

    you didn't go. Be like the fox

    who makes more tracks than necessary,

    some in the wrong direction.

    Practice resurrection.

     

Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front" from The Country of Marriage, copyright © 1973 by Wendell Berry, reprinted by permission of Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc.

Let's go conferencing! (fb)

Conferences are dumb.  They sell a dose of inspiration but with no means to do anything with it.  They create and sustain "sudo-experts"- this new class of folks that are neither experts (people who usually have initials after their name and have spent a chunk of time and sweat knowing more about something than 99.9% of the rest of us) nor are they practitioners (the people doing it that don't have time to go talk about it).  So they read the experts and observe the practitioners, write their observations in a book- then go preach the book at conferences.  Uggg- it's all so lame and Christians have become the best at it because Christians are delighted to spend money on inspiration.  Even the non-Christian experts are now tapping into the Christian conference circuit because there is great money to be made there.  Gosh- I just hate conferences.

All that to say I'd like to recommend a couple of conferences coming up this year.

First, the 99% Conference in NYC April 15-16.  Their tag line is "it's not about ideas it's about making ideas happen."  They are intentionally inviting doers to come and listen to and interact with other doers.  Not just doers, creative doers- a really rare breed.  They have made it outrageously expensive to make sure that looky-loos stay away.  Sponsored by Cool Hunting - I would love to go to this conference.

Second, the Clinton Global Initiative gathering in NYC September 21-24.  If you are invited to be a member and can ante up the $20k fee you can attend this conference.  It is THE gathering of the business leaders, social entrepreneurs, creative thinkers, and political leaders that are focused on taking action to address the most critical issues facing our planet, primarily issues related to improving the plight of the most vulnerable.

What do these gatherings have in common?  The are light on inspiration and heavy on action and outcome.  World-changers don't have the time or energy to get hyped up on inspirational adrenaline- but they will sacrifice a lot to get in an environment that helps them create breakthrough.

Other non-dumb, non-lame, no "sudo-experts" allowed conferences this year?